Public speaking

joanlawson

How are you at public speaking :?:

I've got to give a speech at a charity meeting this afternoon, and I know that my legs will turn to jelly when I stand up in front of all those people. I'll probably turn red as a beetroot :oops: and forget half of what I want to say even though I've got notes to refer to.

I can stand in front of any number of children without feeling any nerves whatsoever, but with adults it's a different matter.

Has anyone got any advice as to how to overcome my nerves :?:

Someone once told me to imagine all the people naked, but that would just make me laugh

dreamdaisy

Establish eye contact with one person dead ahead, one to your left and one to your right. Flick your eyes between them and you will look as though you are addressing everyone ( ergo inclusive) and hopefully you will receive reassuring eye mesages in return. DD

joanlawson

Thanks for your advice, Del and DD.

Rows of cabbages is a good idea, Del, and also your idea about eye contact, DD.

My main problem is breath contol. When I'm nervous, I tend to run out of breath before I get to the end of a sentence, so it comes out rather strangely. Because I'm conscious of this, it only makes it worse, and I end up sounding like a panting dog :roll:

dreamdaisy

Talk slower and a little louder than your usual style, this gives the sound waves time to travel to the back of the room. It also enables you to breathe more regularly.

stickywicket

I used to be absolutely rubbish at this. I, too, did the ‘running out of breath’ thing – in fact I tended to end up swallowing mid-sentence. I’m still not good at it but I have improved. Deliberately talking slower, I have found, is imperative as I speed up when nervous so even consciously talking slower only reins me back to normal speed. So I also adopt the tactic of pausing slightly between sentences, smiling if appropriate (Not if you’ve just announced the death of a much-loved member) as this also helps me to relax and gives me chance to breath normally.

I shall, in future, also adopt DD’s tactic of making eye contact with three people. I was recently seated on the front row of a gathering in which the speaker, standing about 3 feet away, spoke directly to me the whole time. It was most unnerving.

Hope it goes well, Joan.

frogmorton

Oooh Joan

can l wish you lots of luck with this. Do let us know you survived later.

Love

Toni xx

tjt6768

well, believe it or not..... I'm very shy and am rubbish things like this. I've been best man twice.. Hated it.
Wish you the best of luck for the speech
You will be fine

dreamdaisy

I hope it's over and that all went well - I bet you wowed them, Joan!

valval

hope it went well joan sure you did well

joanlawson

Well I got off to a really good start :roll: I got dressed in a smart outfit and then decided to eat a yoghurt with my lunch before going to the meeting. Somehow, it slipped out of my hand and spilled all down my front :shock: I'd even got yoghurt in my shoes :!: :shock: I then had to rush to change clothes, so I was a bit flustered by the time I left home.

Luckily, I had some time to gather myself together as there was a slide presentation before I had to make my speech. There were about 100 people present, and I smiled to myself as I imagined them as rows of cabbages as Del suggested Quite a few of the cabbages smiled back at me, so that helped to put me at my ease. I took a deep breath, and tried not to do my imitation of a panting dog while making eye contact with three of the cabbages as instructed by DD. It seemed to work, and I managed to get through the speech without any hitches, but I was still relieved when it was all over.

Thanks to all for your support and advice folks

Joan

valval

well done 10/10 for doing great job val

tjt6768

well done Joan. I knew you would do it. Spill yoghurt I mean,.i thought you would bomb with the speech :roll:

dreamdaisy

Wow Joan, I am impressed - yoghurt IN your shoes - that takes skill girl!

Seriously, well done: despite the mishap you got yourself together and did a good job by the sounds of things, so congratulations to you. The next one will be easier, the one after that easier still and so it will go on. Whaddya mean, there won't be a next one? DD

joanlawson

Thanks very much everyone

DD, yes, I thought the yoghurt in the shoes was quite clever too ( That's not what I said at the time though :shock: )

tjt6768

well done though Joan. Much better than I would have done I bet..

With the speech, not the yoghurt. I would have managed to get the yoghurt into someone elses shoes easily

dreamdaisy

Tony, when I laugh I cough. You have made me cough far too many times than is good for a girl, so I am going to have to log off. You are a lovely clot, aren't you? DD

tjt6768

I'm such a clot I could cause a stroke
Now stop coughing :roll:

dreamdaisy wrote:

Tony, when I laugh I cough. You have made me cough far too many times than is good for a girl, so I am going to have to log off. You are a lovely clot, aren't you? DD

dreamdaisy

Del! I dropped a steroid down there earlier today. :oops: I had to fish it out for myself due to a distinct lack of helpers. :sad:

tjt6768

:shock: :shock:
hey.. Nobody has heard from Len lately... Are we going to have to arrange a search party :eek:

NinaKKang

Glad it went well, Joan, just catching up on things... You should have told me when and where it was so I could have come along to support (laugh) at you I do a very good impression of a cabbage, I just imagine it's a work meeting!

I could have whooped and cheered in all the right places - I hate missing opportunities!!

Nxx

tjt6768

Hi Nina.. You ok? I can just picture you heckling poor Joan :shock: